Wilderness therapy within an adolescent sexual offender treatment programme: A qualitative study

Abstract

Wilderness therapy is a core component of the adolescent sexual offender treatment programme offered by the SAFE Network Inc. However, little is known about how wilderness therapy contributes to the overall outcomes of adolescents completing the programme. This paper presents an exploratory investigation of the function and process of wilderness therapy within SAFE's treatment programme. Thematic analysis based on participant observation, semi-structured interviews with adolescent participants and semi-structured interviews with therapists involved in the programme was conducted. The analysis found four interdependent themes related to function and process of wilderness therapy: enhanced relationships, view of self, intensity of the experience and aiding disclosure. These themes are discussed in relation to the literature relevant to wilderness and group therapy.

Keywords:

• Adolescent sexual offenders
• wilderness therapy
• group process
• qualitative research
• therapeutic climate

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the staff from the SAFE programme for their support in making this research possible.